Drafting instrument



Sept. 12, 1950 R. l.. FUQUA DRAFTING INSTRUMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1947 Sept. 12, 1950 R. L. FUQUA DRAFTING INSTRUMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1947 DRAFTING INSTRUMENT Filed May 8, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f5-Z 6/ Z4 UNITED j STATES Patented Sept. 12, 1950 DRAFTING INSTRUMENT Robert Lewis Fuqua, Portsmouth, Va. ApplicationMay s, 1947sria1`N0. 746,825'

This invention relates to drafting instruments, and more particularly to a variable irregular curve.

At the present time in the drawing of irregular curves, various types and sizes of curves are provided, but in the drawing of long curves, eitherregular or irregular, the curves must be plotted on the paper which takes considerable time, andthe chances of error are very great. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an instrument which is so Constructed and arranged that any desired curve, either regular or irregular, may be easily and quickly plotted with very close accuracy.

It is also another object of this invention to provide an instrument of this kind wherein the device may be reversed or turned over in order to produce an identical curve spaced from the first curve.

A `further object of this invention is to provide an instrument of this kind which is so constructed that accurate measurements along a regular orirregular curve `may be easily, quickly, and accurately obtained.

Afurther object of this invention is to provide an instrument of this kind which can be securely locked in adjusted position so that the adjusted curve will not vary.

A further object of this invention is to provide in an instrument of this kind, means whereby an initial rough and quick adjustment may be obtained and thereafter a very close or fine adjustment may be obtained.

A further object of this invention is to`providean instrument which will permit the quick obtaining of compound curves, or combined curves and straight lines, and the instrument including interchangeable line guides so that either pencil lor'inked lines may be drawn, and theinked lines will not be smudged or smeared.

A further object of rthis invention is to provide an instrument of this kind, including an improved means for removably securing the de- Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line'3-3 of Figure 2, V

Figure Y4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of the device, i.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 'l-l of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 1,

Figure9 is a fragmentarysectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 1, l

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line I-l il of Figure 9,

Figure 1l is` a fragmentary sectional view taken on the `line i I-l I of Figure 1,

Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective View of a modified form of line guide for use in inking, Figure 13 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of line guide holder,

Figure 14 is a fragmentary top plan of the structure showniin Figure 13.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l5 designates generally a base member which -is preferably of elongated yhollow configuration and includes a bottom wall I6, front and rear walls Il and i8, and a removable top wall |19 which is secured by fastening members 20 to lengthwise and inwardly extending flanges 2l and 22 carried by the front and rear walls I7 and I8, respectively.

A plurality of elongated endwise adjustable line guide supporting rods generally designated as 23 extend through `the base member I5 in parallel `relation to each other and at right angles to the base member l5. The line guide supporting rods 23 are of like construction and each includes an elongated rod 24 formed with exterior threads 25, which has secured to the outer or forward end a sleeve 25. Each rod 23 also includes a relatively short rod 21 formed with opposite threads 28 which threadably engage within the sleeve or nut 26 so that turning of the nut or rod 25 will cause the inner rod member "24 to rotate inv one direction, and the outer rod member 2l, which is non-rotatable,

f will move outwardly or inwardly with respect Vto the rod member 24. Rotation of the nut member 2t will provide a very ne adjustment of the outer rod member 2l.

The inner rod member 24 extends throughan opening 29 formed in the front wall Il, and also through an opening 30, formed inthe rear wall I8. Preferably the openings 29 and 30 are substantially of greater diameter than the outer diameter of the rod member 24 so that the lat- `ter vmay be rocked as'will be hereinafter described, to provide" quick endwise adjustment of each rod member 23.

` An elongated bar 3l is xed byv fastening mem- 'lbers`32 to the outer side of `the re'ar wall I8, and as shown in Figure 4, is formed in its upper edge VATENT4 OFFICE with semi-circular threads 33 which are adapted to be engaged by the threads 25 of the inner rod member 24. When the inner rod member 24 is engaged 4with the threads 33 and is not rotated, the inner rod member 24 will be rmly held against endwise movement.

The inner rod member 24 is resiliently held in engagement with the fragmentary threads 33 by means of a roller 34 which is formed with fragmentary threads 35 extending lengthwise thereof, and forming a concave annular groove which will also hold the roller 34 against endwise movement relative to the rod member 24. rlhe rroller 34 is rotatably mounted on the bight 36 of a U- shaped spring .31, Athe legs 38 of which extend upwardly and are secured, as at 39, to the lower side of the top wall I9. The roller 34 engages on the upper side of the rod 24 at a point spaced forwardly from .the threaded bar 3l, as shown in Figure 2, and a second grooved roller 49 engages the lower side yof the vrod member 24 at a point, spaced forwardly from thepressure roller 34.

` The roller '46 is constructed similar to the roller 34 and is mounted on a shaft or wire 4! which is extended across an opening or slot 42 formed in an L-shaped bracket or roller supporting member 43, which isxed by fastening members 44 to the inner side of the front wall l1.

rIfhe forward and .lower roller 40 provides a means whereby the lower side of the rod member 24 will be held against contact with the edges of lthe opening 29 in the front wall I1 so that the threads on `the rod member 24 will not be injured when quick, endwise adjustment is effected by lifting the rear end of the rod member 24 .out of the fragmentary threads 33 and then moving the rod member 24 either forwardly or rearwardly.

A plastic plate or bar 45 is secured by fastening means 46 to the forward side of the front wall l1 and is formed with an opening 41 for each rod member 24 which is slightly smaller in size than the opening 29 so that in the event the rod member 24 is tilted unduly, the threads 25 will Contact the plastic bar or plate 45 and will accordinglynot be injured thereby.

In order to provide a means whereby the outer rod members 21 are held against rotation relative to Ithe inner rod members 24 on rotation of the latter, I have provided an elongated relatively stiff but bendable wire 48 which is extended through openings '49 formed in each rod member 21. Preferably the ends ofthe openings 49 are flared outwardly, as indicated at 50, so that the wire 58 can readily bend on the desired curvature between pairs of rods without' causing a sharp undesired Vbend at a pointJ where the wire passes through an outer rod member.

As shown in Figure l, there is one wire mem- -ber 48 which extends through a'll of the outer `rod members 21 and this wire member 48 maybe piano wire or the like. The outer rod mem- .'/bers 21 have removably mounted on their outer `ends upper and lower flexible line guiding strips :51 and 52. Each outer rod member 21 has se- Ycured'thereto fa pair lof pins 5,3 and 54 which extend diametrically of the outer rod member 21 so as-to form two pairs of jaws between whichy the upper-and lower line guide members and 52 are .adapted to loosely engage. The line guide members 5! and 52 may be formed on their outer sides with :graduations 55 and 56 respectively so that :the lengths of curves which are formed by thebending `o.1;he,guide members can be quickly 4 and accurately determined Without plotting the lengths of the curves. The upper line guide member 5I is designed for use in forming an identical curve -to the curve formed yby the lower line guide member'52 when thefdeviceiis reverted and disposed in an oppositely extending direction.

The base member l5 may be detachably secured or anchored to a drawing board or the like by means of anchoring pins 51 which loosely engage through openings 58 and 59 formed in the bottom wall i6 and in the top wall I9 respectively. The ypin 5'! is provided with a head 60 so that this pin can be readily pressed into the drawing board. There may be as many of these anchoring pins as may be desired for firmly securing the base member or housing l5 in the desired position on the drawing paper and draw-4 ing board.

In order to provide a means whereby the elongated rod members 23 maybe Yheld against lateral movement relative to each other, I have provided an elongated holding bar 6:! which is formed with downwardly opening slots 62 which open through the lower edge of the bar 6|. 'The inner rod members 24 are adapted to engage in the slots 62, as clearly shown in Figure'7.

An additional anchoring means to prevent' lateral movement of the rods 23 is provided by means of an inverted U-shaped pin y63, which is adapted to engage over at least thel opposite end rods 23 and is adapted to be extended into the drawing board.

An elongated shank 64, formed with ahead 65, extends from the bight of the U-shaped member 63 and provides a simple means whereby the rod anchoring member may be secured to or removed from the drawing board.

After the outer rod members 21 are -nely adjusted by rotation of the sleeves or nuts 26, the outer rod members 2'! may be locked in adjusted position by lock nuts 56 which are threaded on the outer rod members 21 and bear against lthe outer ends of the sleevesor nuts 26.

Referring now to Figure 12, there is disclosed a modified form of guide member adapted particularly for use in inking of the drawing. herein shown, an elongated flexible strip 61 is provided which has an outwardly extending ange or rib V68 on its lower edge. The rib or flange 68 is provided with a beveled lower corner 69 so as to vhold a ruling or inking pen away from the lower edge of the rib and thereby prevent thel ink applied to the drawing by the 'pen from working underneath the line guide. It will, of course, be understood that the guide member 61 may if desired, be provided with-a suitablescale.

vReferring now to Figures 13 and 14, vthere v4is disclosed a modified form of holding means for the flexible line guides. As herein disclosed, the outer rod members 21a 'have rotatably secured thereto a right angularly vdisposed cylindrical holder 10 which formed with oppositely extending lengthwise slots 1! opening through the opposite ends thereof. The holder 1B rotatably engages a concave seat 12 which is formed in the end of the outer rod member 21a and in order to hold the holder 1-6 against vertical lmovement, I have provided a U-shaped wire 13 which has the opposite legs thereof lfixed, as by soldering or fastening means 14, to the outer rod member 21a and the loop or bight of the U-shaped ymember 13 loosely engages in an annular groove 15 which is formed in the holder 1U between the inner .ends of the yslots 1 I.

In the use and operation of this device, the

base member l is initially roughly adjusted or positioned on the drawing paper and board, be-

ing anchored by the anchoring pins 5l. The curve forming rods 23 are then individually or separately adjusted. endwise by raising the inner ends thereof so as to disengage the threads 25 from the fragmentary locking threads 33. At this time the lower line guide member 52 will be in contacting relation at its lower edge with the paper on the drawing board. The several curve forming and adjusting rods 23 are roughly and quickly adjusted endwise, as hereinbefore described, so as to roughly form the desired curved line. After the rough curvature has been made, the curvature may be accurately readjusted by rotating each nut or sleeve 25. Rotation of the nut or sleeve 26 will cause the inner and outer rod members 24 and 21 respectively to move in opposite directions so that the line guide member 52 which is contacting with the drawing paper may be nely and accurately adjusted to produce the desired curve.

While I have shown on the drawing an irreggagement with a fragmentary nut, an elongated ilexible line guide member, and means secur- A ing said line guide member to the outer ends ular 'curve which is produced by this instrument,

it will be understood that this instrument can also produce regular curves and combined straight lines and curves. When it is desired to produce an identical and oppositely disposed curve from that rst produced, the entire device is turned over and the upper line guide member 5| then engaged with the drawing paper. Inasmuch as the line guide members are securely locked by the lock nuts 66, the adjusting rods will not get out of adjustment upon inverting of the instrument. kAfter the desired curve or curves have been obtained by adjustment of the curve forming and adjusting rods 23and thel instrument has been secured by the anchoring pins 5l to the drawing board, the adjusting rods 23 may besecured against movement relative to each other by engagement of the slotted bar lil over the inner rod members 24. A further anchoring of the rod members may be obtained by extending the U-shaped pin 63 over one or more of the rod members 23 so that-these rod members will not have lateral movement relative to the base member I 5.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A drafting instrument comprising an eloni gated base member, a plurality of parallel rods extending horizontally and loosely through said member, each rod having an inner threaded portion extending through said member, a fragmentary nut for each rod xedly carried by said base member in a position to normally engage the threads of said rod, a spring-pressed roller carried by said base member diametrically opposite said nut normally holding a rod in` engagement with a fragmentary nut, an elongated ilexible line guide member, and means securing said line guide member to the outer ends of said rods.

2. A drafting instrument comprising an elongated base member, a plurality of parallel rods extending horizontally and loosely through said member, each rod having an. inner threaded portion extending through said member, a fragmentary nut for eachrod xedly carried by said base member in a position to normally engage the threads of said rod, a spring-pressed roller carried .by said base member diametrically opposite said nut normally holding a rod in enof said rods, said securing means including a part aligning with and rotatably coupled to Said rod.

3. A drafting instrument comprising an elongated base member, a plurality of parallel rods extending horizontally and loosely through said member, each rod having an inner threaded portion extending through member, a fragmentary nut for each rod xedly carried by said base member in a position to normally engage the threads of said rod, a spring-pressed roller carried by said lbase member diametrically opposite said nut normally holding a rod in engagement with a fragmentary nut, an elongated flexible line guide member, and means securing said line guide member to the outer ends of said rods, said means including a vertically disposed slotted line guide holder, and rotatable coupling means between said rod and said holder securing said holder to said rod.

4. A draftinginstrument comprising an elongated base member, a plurality of threaded elongated parallel rods extending loosely and transversely through said .base member, fragmentary nutv means fixed to said base member and engaging the lower sides of said rods, springpressed rollers normally holding said rods in engagement with said nut means, guide rollers carried by said base member forwardly of said first named rollers, an elongated flexible line guide strip extending transversely of the outer ends of said rods, endwise adjustable line guide holding means rotatably coupled to said rods, and a slotted holding bar engageable over said rods for holding the latter against movement relative to each other.

5. A drafting instrument comprising an elongated base member, a plurality of threaded elongated parallel rods extending loosely and transversely through said base member, fragmentary nut means xed to said base member and engaging the lower sides of said rods, springpressed rollers normally holding said rods in en- ROBERT LEWIS FUQUA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '7,257 Chamberlain Apr. 9, 1850 291,380 Milloy Jan. 1, 1884 '142,937 Way Nov. 3, 1903 1,054,109 Gasparich Feb. 25, 1913 1,136,295 Szilard Apr. 20, 1915 1,367,924 Sibley 1 Feb. 8, 1921 2,232,369 Coffman Feb. 18, 1941 2,311,804 Wright Feb. 23, 1943 

